2009.03.30

The Farewell Party went well. The nijikai was okay. I think some of the teachers are trying to set me up with another one of the teachers. Weird. The third party was karaoke. I don’t really remember the last bit of it, but I did eventually figure out that I paid for it…since I checked my finances and I was about ¥15,000 short. Luckily, I did pay for it. I had thought that I hadn’t, and then not paid for the taxi. That would have been bad, but paying for it makes it okay. It would have been terrible if I hadn’t have paid or helped pay for some of it…I know I’ve done that before and it sucks. I figure paying for it is the least I can do for making them have to listen to my terrible singing. I did it gaijin style. Poor Japanese people - gaijin style was probably new for them. They probably had no idea what was going on at all. But we were all drunk, so it’s okay. Really, really drunk.

That was Friday, Saturday I went to buy tickets for a bus to Tokyo with a friend. I misunderstood one thing and the ticket guy got rather…cranky(?) with us. It was probably one of the worst experiences I’ve had with service here. From there, the friend and I went to Starbucks, had some coffee, and then left for cheap food. We suddenly met up with another friend at a soup restaurant, talked there for a while, and then headed for the cheap food in question. It was pretty good – not the best, but that’s okay. After our feast, two of us went to Yodobashi to look at computers…and other things. We eventually ended up in the games/toy section (because it’s the only natural course of action, really), and we tried to find him a sexy game. The sexy games were found, but none that met certain requirements. I’ll leave those up to your imagination. Spent probably about ¥1,000 on stupid keychains which I love. It was completely worth it…and I kinda want more. From there, we went to buy foodstuffs for a gathering that a friend was having. We arrived late…and that kinda sucked; she was pissed off. Luckily she didn’t take it personally, and we had a good time with great food.

Sunday…my stomach hurt all day - partly nerves about not remembering the last bit of karaoke, and partly ‘cause it did. I skipped out on pantomime practice. I just couldn’t do it. I cleaned my apartment a little bit, did laundry, watched 9 episodes of a strange Japanese Drama that I’m not sure if I like or not. It wasn’t the best day, but it’ll do. Some woman came to my door and made me fill out a survey. She honestly wouldn’t take my ‘I don’t know what you mean’ as it was meant and just kept asking the questions. Did she explain? Nope, she just kinda picked an answer for me. Luckily I got out of having them come to my door again. I honestly couldn’t be buggered to use the energy it would take to figure out her questions and answer them. She gave me a crappy mechanical pencil in return for my time and energy. I’m just glad I put on pants before I opened the door. But maybe I shouldn’t have…
I felt rather disgusting for most of the day. Lately, I’ve been treating my body rather badly. Granted, I had been going to boxercise, but I had been eating pretty badly so it made my body unhappy. I kind of want to skip out on boxercise tonight, but I know I shouldn’t. I’ll enjoy it, and I know that. I guess it’ll all depend on whether my clothes are dry or not. Lately, the people at the gym (as in the staff) have been talking to me. It’s a little weird for a foreigner, but I think they talk to the other people, so it’s probably okay…just…new.

Oh man. My belt it going into my back in a rather uncomfortable fashion. It’s not really that cool with me, but it’s okay. There’s not much to do about it. I can’t get rid of the belt, and I probably should stay at my desk.

Ahh, I can’t work up the energy to go to boxercise tonight. I know I’ll like it, but getting there might be a problem. Oh well. On a good note, I all but got told to come into work at about 9 tomorrow. Whoo-hoo - an extra hour of sleep that isn’t at work. Unfortunately the rest of the days there are meetings so I must come in on time. I think I’m going to grab some takoyaki and/or okonomiyaki from the store tonight and then get some comics and spend the night inside…although I should go to the gym. Perhaps I will. Who knows. It really isn’t too terribly important…I’ve just got about 42 minutes left at work and I ran out of things to do before I got here this morning.

I did go to boxercise. Again, it was amazing. Had some takoyaki; wasn't that good. Got told not to show up for work until about 9 tomorrow, so I shall. I gets to sleep 'til 8 - whoo hooooo!

2009.03.26

I went to the gym today. It was good. Boxercise was amazing. I know why I always feel like I don’t want to go, but I do always like it…even if I am sore the next day. Or, maybe, perhaps because I am sore the next day? It’s a puzzle.
It was a bad day for interpersonal communication. I really think my Japanese is getting worse and worse. It sucks. It also sucks that my Japanese will never be as good as my English. Which is pathetic since my English sucks. Sucks real bad. Case in point.
I was thinking of going back home for a little in July. It seemed like a good idea. Hang out with my family, get clothes and shoes that fit, things like that. But, I don’t think I can deal with the airports. I remember the heavy feelings I got last time I was at the airport waiting for the flight out. It really was bad. It made my heart hurt. Not like a heart attack, but like a heavy squeezing feeling on it. I’m not 100% sure why or anything like that, but it has happened almost all the times. I think the only time it didn’t happen was when I first came to Japan all those years ago. At least I don’t think it happened. It could have happened but I was too worried about the flight. So, needless to say, I’m not sure if I will go home or not come July/June. It’d be nice, but I’m not sure yet. Well, I’m guessing it would be nice. Obviously I won’t know until it’s happening if it’s nice or not.

2009.03.23 edit

I did indeed go to the gym. It was a-mazing.

...I'm sore already... Tomorrow is gonna kill me. Oh well. It's a fun death.

I somehow managed to pull a neck muscle last night. I don't know what I did, but I did it well. It killed me when we were doing the 'up in the air leg' crunches. I wonder what I did...? It's only on the right side.

AND, my sport bra's too big. As is the shirt. I guess these should be good things, but they make all the jumping a pain.

If you get bruises easily, does it mean you need more vitamin C or potassium? ...or vitamin P, perhaps?

And, I've decided to go on a diet and budget myself more closely than I have been. Yeah for more work for myself!! Yeah!!

2009.01.26

Today school was pretty good. Not too much time to speak with the students, but that is okay. A teacher was late arriving at one of the classes so I got to be in charge for about 15 minutes. It wasn't too bad since I knew approximately what it was we were supposed to be doing. So, I made them repeat after me like how I would have done with the teacher in the room. And, just as I was trying to figure out what to do next, the teacher came and I could take my place again in the background. I like it there. Being there for random entertainment and pronunciation checks is nice...especially if I don't have anything on me for them to do...like worksheets. It was third years, so it wasn't so bad. Not that it would have been terrible in any grade.
After school, I went home, had some dinner, and then went to the Book-Off. There, I found Misery. That made me happy. I also got a couple of fighting games. I'm thinking about having people over for on Saturday, but I'm not sure. I think I will though. It should he fun.
After that bit of shopping, I went to the gym in plenty of time for the Boxercise class. I'm thinking of taking up a dance class. I just can't decide between hip-hop and belly dance. I want to learn hip-hop, but I've already studied belly dance for a while and I feel like I should continue with it. Assuming I can get more motivated, I'll do both, but the question is: which do I start with? Hip-hop will be better to get me in shape, but belly dance is good for muscle training, especially the...belly...
For some odd reason my shins hurt. Like the muscles there. I'm not sure why. Oh well. It's not that important.
The boxercise class was rather interesting. I enjoyed it. I'm amazingly uncoordinated, but that is okay. I have yet to fall down or punch myself in the face (although I have nicked myself once), so it's not that bad.
After the class (and the shower and changing...) I returned home and eventually went to sleep.
...you know, sometimes I forget that I'm obviously foreign until an old man stares at me while walking by. That's the moment of realization. It kinda sucks to be a freak show, but it could be worse. Most of the people here aren't trying to kill me.
...
which actually sounds more depressing than it is. I admit, I love it here.